About EPC
Elevated Performance Concepts was founded to provide high quality firearms training to Law Enforcement and responsible firearms owners. EPC's firearms training is grounded in performance shootings concepts and shooting at the speed of real life. We will show you A way, not THE way to elevate your performance. We are firm believers in the "never stop learning" mentality. All of our instructors are full time law enforcement officers who are training on a regular basis and shooting in USPSA, IPSC and other shooting competitions. Elevated Performance Concepts...Training at the speed of real life.
Instructor Bios
Erik T.
Erik is an active-duty law enforcement officer with 16 years of experience with a large Southern California sheriff’s department. Erik currently holds the rank of sergeant and has previously worked investigations, patrol and corrections. Erik was an investigator for seven years where he worked financial crimes, an Auto Theft Task Force and an intelligence unit. He worked five years in a plain clothes “UC” capacity and conducted covert surveillance, executed search warrants, and conducted numerous high risk vehicles stops and takedowns. Erik is a California POST certified firearms instructor (pistol & shotgun) and a CA POST red dot instructor. Erik specializes in the 1911/2011 platform and has been shooting a 1911/2011 pistol since 2016. Erik is a factory certified Staccato armorer and has carried a Staccato on duty for two years.
Erik has trained with some of the industry's best firearms instructors over the last 16 years, including but not limited to; Mike Pannone, Steve Fisher, Ben Stoeger, Donovan Moore (Point 1 Tactics), Matt Pranka, Aaron Cowan, Chris Costa, Scott Jedlinski, Rob Leatham, Scotty Reitz (ITTS), Primal Response, Aaron Burruga, Sig Sauer Academy, Bill Murphy, Sentinel Defense, Gabe Rivera (Mindset Tactical Solutions), East Bay Firearms Training (EBFT) and Aj Zito (Practical Performance).
Erik is passionate about training and is constantly looking for ways to help his fellow LEOs better themselves not just on the range but on the streets where it matters.
John E.
John is an active-duty law enforcement officer at a California state agency with over 17 years of experience. John has been a California POST certified firearms instructor at his agency for over a decade. John is currently a Police Corporal assigned to patrol where he serves as an acting supervisor and watch commander. John has also served as a Detective, Rangemaster, Field Training Officer, Patrol Officer, Grenadier on the Special Response Team, and worked on a problem-oriented policing team. John has been presented three Riverside County Investigative Excellence awards, is a peer reviewed author in the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association’s ILEETA Journal, and is a California POST certified academy instructor.
As a firearms instructor, John is an NRA Handgun and Shotgun Instructor, Sig Sauer Pistol Mounted Optics Instructor, Sig Sauer Master Pistol Instructor, Sig Sauer Low Light Pistol Instructor, POST Patrol Rifle Instructor, POST Less Lethal Weapons Instructor, POST Active Shooter Response Instructor, Simunition FX Scenario Instructor, Glock Instructors Workshop, and Taser Instructor.
John has also trained with some of the best firearms trainers in the business including Vogel Dynamics, Ben Stoeger, CTT Solutions, Practical Performance, First Defense USA, Hades Consulting, Sentinel Defense, Donovan Moore (Point 1 Tactics), and Modern Samurai Project. John has competed in USPSA, IDPA, and Steel Challenge and is currently working on training and improving his skills in these sports.
John is brothers-in-law to fallen Riverside Police Officer Ryan Bonaminio and was also partners with fallen Riverside Police Officer Michael Crain. Because of this, John takes firearms training very seriously and is dedicated to helping his brothers and sisters survive a deadly force encounter.
John possesses a Master of Science degree from the University of San Diego in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside.
John G.
John is an active duty law enforcement officer in southern California with 7 years of patrol experience. He currently holds the rank of Corporal and is assigned to patrol. He is also a part of his departments Special Response Team (SWAT). John is CA POST certified Firearms Instructor, a CA POST certified red dot instructor, and CA POST certified patrol rifle instructor for his department. John is a certified armorer for Staccato, Glock, Sig Sauer, and Smith and Wesson. John has been carrying a Staccato on duty for 2 years and has been using a pistol mounted optic for duty for 4 years. John assisted his department in the approval process for pistol mounted optics on duty and currently runs his departments pistol mounted optic transition program.
John has a passion for training and teaching and has trained with several instructors to include: Scott Jedlinski (Modern Samurai Project), AJ Zito (Practical Performance), Steve Fisher, Mike Levy, and several Sig Sauer Academy instructors.
Chris C.
Chris is an active-duty law enforcement officer with a little over 3 years of experience. Chris started his law enforcement career with a small Los Angeles County Police Department where he was a member of the Range Staff, a Patrol Officer, and a Field Training Officer. After 2 ½ years,
Chris lateraled to a large Southern California Sheriff’s Department where he is currently assigned to Custody Operations as a sworn Deputy Sheriff.
Chris is a California POST Certified Firearms Instructor for both Pistol and Rifle. Chris has taken various classes through his previous department such as: POST Pistol Instructor, POST Rifle Instructor, POST Less Lethal Instructor, and Basic Glock Armorer. Chris plans on continuing his firearms training and taking more classes for 2024 as well as training three times a month at a private range in Corona, CA.
Matt B.
Matt is currently an active-duty law enforcement officer in a busy and violent city in Orange County, with approximately 4.5 years of experience on patrol. He is a POST-certified firearms instructor and serves as an auxiliary firearms instructor for both pistol and patrol rifle.
Before his career in law enforcement, Matt proudly served nearly eight years in the United States Marine Corps, where he finished as a Platoon Communications Chief at 1stReconnaissance Bn. In this role, he trained for and conducted land-based raids and VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) operations.
Matt holds several POST certifications, including Patrol Rifle, Pistol with Optics, and Low Light Instructor. Additionally, he is certified by the FBI as a firearms instructor and through Sig Sauer as a low light instructor. His armorer certifications include Glock, Colt M16/AR-15, and Remington 870.
He has trained with industry leaders such as Drew Estell from Baer Solutions, Jesse and Wayne from Primal Response, Clint and Marc from Sentinel Defense, Bruiser Industries, and Achilles Heel. Most recently, he completed the Basic LE Sniper Course through Max Ordinance. Matt also trained with EPC several times before being selected to be apart of the EPC cadre.
Matt actively trains with various companies to gain expertise across all firearm platforms and their functions. This commitment to continuous learning not only enhances his skills as an instructor but also allows him to provide more comprehensive knowledge and training to new shooters.
Nate G.
Nate has been an active-duty law enforcement officer at a Southern California agency for 11 years. Nate is a POST certified pistol & rifle instructor as well as CATO (California Association of Tactical Officers) certified SWAT firearms instructor. Nate has been part of his regional SWAT team for 9 years where he is currently an assistant team leader.
Nate has been a firearms instructor for 8 years. Teaching at his department as well as on his SWAT team. In addition to firearms he has experience teaching chemical agents, tactics as well as being a field training officer. Currently he is a Corporal assigned to investigations.
Nate is constantly continuing his shooting education through training classes and competing in USPSA. He is passionate about performance handgun and low light training.